From Medical News Today:
The ketogenic diet consists of high fat foods, foods that contain an adequate amount of protein, and a very low amount of carbohydrates.
Normally, the human body gets its main source of energy (sugar) from carbs.
However, the ketogenic diet deprives the body of glucose, inducing a state of “ketosis.”
During ketosis, the body is forced to break down stored fat instead of sugar to produce an alternative source of energy.
The ketogenic, or “keto,” diet has been around for centuries. Traditionally, some have used it as a therapy for conditions such as diabetes and epilepsy.
Newer studies have started to examine the therapeutic potential of the keto diet for other conditions, such as cancer, polycystic ovary syndrome, and Alzheimer’s disease.
New research explores the keto diet as a potential avenue for cancer treatment. Jung-Whan Kim, an assistant professor of biological sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas, is the corresponding author of the new study.
Using a mouse model of lung and esophageal cancer, Kim and colleagues restricted the rodents’ levels of circulating glucose by feeding them a ketogenic diet and administering them a diabetes drug that stops the kidneys from reabsorbing blood sugar.
The researchers have published their paper in the journal Cell Reports. Meng-Hsiung Hsieh is the first author.
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